Recently; I was muted by the admin of Victron Energy facebook page because somebody asked where to find discounts on Victron equipment and I replied with: "Victron dealers aren’t allowed to sell Victron products below 15% off MSRP, even on Black Friday. Most dealers, myself included at shop.explorist.life keep our prices at that 15% off msrp year round." My comment was deleted and I was temporarily muted for self promotion. But guess what comment by another group member stayed and DID NOT get deleted? "The 150/35 is on sale on Amazon." The fact of the matter is that the odds are stacked against all small businesses. Any time somebody shares their 'deal' they got from Amazon; it's seen as a helpful tip. If I, as a small business owner, share what makes our business different; it's seen as self promotion and we are silenced. This is why it's so critical for YOU - our viewers and supporters of what we do here on this educational channel - to share this information with others looking to get into this hobby; because YOU sharing our information in these groups means 10x as much as me sharing it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Bottom line, your customer service and tech support is top grade and you can’t get that from Amazon. Last year I purchased a complete setup, components and wiring, from you guys for my fifth wheel and with the help of your step by step tutorial, did the installation myself. This saved me over $5k and I’ve had zero problems with the system. Extremely grateful for all of your content and all of the information you share.
I agree 100%! Your wiring kits also remove a LOT of stress trying to figure out right size, Lugs etc. I will not risk burning down my van to save a few bucks on Amazon! Thanks again!
I have an Excel spreadsheet that lists all of the stuff for my build. I have been buying it one piece at a time for the last few years, as my budget allows. I have had to update that list every time I buy something. Victron stuff had been steadily dropping their prices for years. Several of your kits are on my list as well. Thank you for doing what you do. I hope the two or three times a year I tell people about your store helps get the word out.
Which, by coincidence, applies to Victron products themselves. I mean, between their own materials (especially two booklets you can download from their site... Wiring Unlimited, and Energy Unlimited), and their community (called Victron Professional, but anyone can sign up and get in). So yeah... companies that go out of their way to help you before, or even if you never, purchase from them, are the kind of companies you WANT to do biz with.
Saw your comment in the Facebook group before it was muted! Thanks for putting out the great content you do, including this. As a ABYC tech and Victron dealer myself, I think what y’all are doing is great, and have pointed clients to your content as a great way to educate them!
Thanks for the support! Facebook groups are frustrating like that. Share a piece of information: Super helpful. Share a piece of information accompanied with a link where they can purchase the item in question? If it's amazon; it's fine. If it's your own store: Muted for self promotion.
I missed that it got muted…you were (and are) spot on. Your wiring kits and component kits are a huge value added for the consumer, especially the pre/post sales support y’all do. 👍👍
Having installed a full system on our 5th wheel earlier this year, you provide a much higher level of information thru your tutorial videos and I loved being able to purchase a wiring kit that had everything I needed to complete that segment of the project.
I've purchased from you numerous times because 1) your prices are competitive, and 2) I want to support you since I've watched, and learned a lot from your videos for many years!
Excellent video on trials and tribulations of being a small business in this mass reseller impersonal world that we live in . Differentiating your business by showing your passion for what you do, your support for what you sell and dedication to customer service is something few businesses, especially the Amazons of the world can compete with. Well done.
I’m just happy that we are bound by policy to have the same prices so that I can go toe to toe with them on customer support because I’ll win that 7 days a week.
@Exploristlife For me buying from you was/is a simple proposition. You create tutorials that explain to the layman how to design a system that fits the need, then you assemble everything from wiring diagrams to complete kits and list them in your online store, then you price your products competitively and answer (sometimes dumb) questions from people like me to insure the system will work correctly. Because of your efforts I purchased my solar components from you and installed a system that works great and enables us to camp for extended periods off-grid. You deserve as many thumbs up as this community can muster and much success for your efforts. Believe me, you’re appreciated in this household and will be getting a few more questions in advance of my next purchases for our next upgrade. Seriously, thank you 👊🏻😎👍
Your tutorials and wiring kits and parts made by solar install very doable for the novice that I was when starting my installation. My items arrived neatly packaged and within a few days of placing my order. As you stated your prices are on par with any other seller and one can be sure of receiving the highest quality.
MAP means exactly that. Minimum Advertised Price. These policies are carefully crafted to avoid breaking restraint of trade laws. This is not the same as the minimum price one is allowed to sell at. To do otherwise is illegal. It simply means that a dealer can’t advertise lower. All this said, this is complex stuff and Explorist is doing a great job providing support that is worth paying for. On the other hand, if one has training and invested in the design already, it would be reasonable to request a written quote for the best price.
At explorist.life, we don't discount further than MAP even if you 'request a written quote for the best price'. MAP is a fair price for the buyer, for one, but for two: It's also a fair price for us as a business where we have to make a certain amount to operate. If we start discounting everybody's order who emails in, those discounts have to come from somewhere. I suppose that next time I get a request for a discount further than MAP, I can ask the customer which of our paychecks here at explorist.life the discount will come from and then see how well that goes over with the team. 🤣😬 Or maybe I can give 5% off MAP, but everytime they email a question: I invoice them my hourly rate. Personally, I dislike both of those options and I'd rather keep everything fair for everybody.
As a small business owner I can understand the pain and frustration of killing yourself to provide incredible customer service and still seeing people spend their money at places like Amazon instead. Kudos to you for still fighting for it. I hope for your continued success. Thanks for all of your help.
Hear Hear! There are two types of middlemen... 1)- those that simply handle your product as part of a distribution chain... period. 2)- Then there's the other kind of middleman... the one who studies his own product, learns how to add value to it with after sales support... someone who HAS to be there for you, because of agreements with Victron, etc.
We also offer fast shipping (it won't be 2-day shipping since we only have one warehouse and not one in every state) and the shipping is also free given the order is over $200, which in most cases it is given the inherent cost of these products.
Glad you made this video. I have watched several of you videos and found them very informative and helpful. However, I must admit I bought my Victron equipment mostly from amazon just because we have become conditioned. It is easy to purchase, as a Prime Member I get free shipping and, as you stated, returns are pretty much hassle free. All of those reasons are legitimate. This video reminds me that many TH-cam video makers sell equipment at similar prices to Amazon. Where possible and financially a "wash" we should be supporting content creators like yourself. I am going to try and remember when I need another piece of equipment for my off grid system to check you guys out. I see you have free shipping on orders over $200 so that should not be an issue. I don't know how you handle returns so that is a bit of a wild card but like the fact I would have product support if I purchased from you. When I purchase from Amazon I pretty much assume there will be next to no product support. I have gotten some product support as a result of an Amazon purchase but it is not for the faint of heart. You must be persistent jump thru several hoops and then you MIGHT get a response from the third party seller or...............you may not. Again, I think this video was a good reminder for me and I'll bet others.
Thanks for the additional consideration there. For returns; if it's just a simply "I changed my mind" return, as long as the product is new-in-box and unused; that's a pretty straightforward return. If it's a return on a faulty piece of equipment; 9 times out of 10, the item isn't faulty and it's either an installation or programming error; and instead of just accepting a return; we will help the customer to get the product up and running with the guides we make for that purpose. This gets the customer to the desired "I just want it to work" result faster than a return, and swapping in a component that is ultimately going to give the same problem because the 'problem' wasn't fixed. If the equipment is actually deemed faulty; we start the warranty process and get that moving pretty quickly. Personally I LOATHE outstanding warranty claims so I want to get those handled as fast as possible.
I try to buy from those who provide useful information and educate. Last August 28 (my birthday), I bought myself a manly birthday present via one of your links, which is a wire cutter you recommended in a video. I've bought other things through you, and I'll buy more. Your prices are good, your affiliate prices are good, and the videos seal the deal. I'm not an expert, but I am a retired engineer and what could be called an "advanced enthusiast," who is still learning. A lot of beginners ask me a lot of questions that would take hours to answer. Luckily, I can point them to either you or Will Prowse for just about anything, since Will covers a lot of residential systems, and you focus on mobile.
Agreed... depending on the question, I refer folks to either, or both, Explorist Life and Will Prouse... two sides of the same coin..... .....for your smile for the day, just for fun, there's always "Physicsduck" (Chris Boden). with just random, usually very high voltage stuff... mostly shorts.
Great video Nate, we know all too well what it means to be one of the "good guys", always adhering to MAP no matter what while others who don't even know what a SmartShunt (insert any Victron product) is and sell for less. Keep up the good work, it can be frustrating but hopefully service wins in the end.
I truly can't imagine how y'all deal with being such high volume on Amazon, specifically in regards to people buying product, issuing a return, and then sending you back a bag of rice in a Victron box to scam the process. Truly infuriating. 😂😅😬 The stories y'all could tell.
Ok, so I am the guy that watches your videos for fun but I do this to research which equipment I want, learn about the design considerations and test my design/understanding. In the end I have been buying my equipment for the reasons you outlined. However I have not bought from you because I did not understand your service and support model. Sorry about that. I will say your approach is excellent and better than most. I think as you progress you will have a support model better than any other supplier for DIY'ers.
Thanks for the additional consideration going forward. I think that as it stands currently, we already have a support model better than any other supplier. I would be curious what support another dealer provided that swayed your decision away from us in the first place?
I have no intention now of installing a solar system but in the past was. I’m an rv’r but am simply interested in learning about the technology and when I found your site a few years ago I found it and your presentation interesting and informative.
The TLDR is: Buy once, cry once. I started with Explorist and decided to build a custom setup around my existing inverter to run a 24v AC system and the van components at 12v. I took what they recommended (even buying a couple of wiring diagrams) and sallied forth to source my own 'cheaper' goods. 1) Wire: in my ignorance, I didn't know I was buying copper coated aluminum on Amazon. 2) Components: I bought two items from amazon, both Victron. One came and it was the wrong item and the other came and was used. Not heavily, but it had a funk and the packaging had clearly been opened and repacked. So, now I'm back, I ordered my house wiring based on their link and am scheduling to purchase a kit from them later this week. Resellers either knowingly (devious) or unknowingly (careless) prey on the users ignorance. I have lots and lots of ignorance. Whatever premium Explorist charges is absolutely worth it. It is the cheapest education you can find. Besides, it's MINIMAL, which I think this video does a good job of explaining.
Hmmm... we are ALL, if not ignorant, at least woefully uneducated for electrical work, unless we actually studied electrical engineering. All the advice we can get is useful. And if we find repetitive content between different channels.. GOOD, that info is probably correct. lol.
Worth noting that I didn't have good enough grades in school to get accepted into an engineering program and I'd like to think that is a testament to the fact you most definitely do NOT need to be an electrical engineer to build these systems.
@@EXPLORISTlife Oh, I agree... just meant that if we are to do it ourselves, we want the best info available to guide us, and a supplier that sticks with us till we get it right. lol.
I recently purchased a complete Explorer Lite package from Explorist and I'm very satisfied. The quality of all materials (wire, terminals, etc) was top notch. My Inverter got damaged in shipping and Chad at Explorist remedied the issue perfectly.
Can't say thank you enough for all the info you put out. Your kit made it so easy for me to put together and install a great system in my Ovrlnd Camper! Will be back when it's time to add more....which is now lol
The After Service Care is the best I have encountered, I cannot overstate how helpful they have been, I built my first Sprinter this summer and they were crazy helpful, even went above and beyond. Do yourself a favor and get free help!
Good video. I really appreciate how you folks explained pricing and I agree that too often it seems easier via Amazon. But in the case of solar, there is a lot more to consider beyond the price and when you buy something from Amazon, if you need more after the fact, you might find yourself in a bit of a pinch.
You DO!! We ship internationally and have quite a few Australian customers already. Do you have any feedback/tips on how we can better convey that we ship internationally?
@EXPLORISTlife probably more just an assumption on my part sorry. Your shipping policy clearly its states international policy. I'd just not read that far. Thanks.
Amazon is The last place i order stuff from. I find stuff on your site is reasonable.... The Information is EXCELLENT.... As being an Auto Mechanic/wiring tech dude? I always run wire @ the next size up, and 2x the required Gauge if possible FOR big AMPS Loads/runs.... I can add on at a later Date without doubt..... I always Shop Around, i find alot of times ya can get it cheaper without most store markup prices.. Ya'll is 1 of the places i send interested people to.. Im tired of seeing people get jacked.. I dont know what Amazon is sending me,, New, Used, Returned, defective? a FAKE? Ya never know with Amazon..
A few years back there was a major legal case against a spice manufacturer for fixing prices just this way. It was very expensive for them, and they lost, which made it more expensive.
If you're referring to the McCormicks FTC lawsuit regarding the The Robinson-Patman Act; that was an entirely different thing. Having a MAP policy is not price fixing as the policy only has to do with what we are allowed to advertise for. MAP pricing also protects smaller dealers like ourselves from huge corporations like Amazon/Walmart with unlimited capital driving the prices down below my wholesale price, putting me out of business, and then raising prices to higher than retail when there's no competition. Without map pricing, you'd end up paying a higher price at the end of the day because of this and then you'd be having to deal with a dealer who is just there becaue they could sell goods and not necessarily provide the tech support/customer service. At face value, MAP pricing policies don't seem very customer friendly; but looking at the big picture, they protect everybody.
Well the one issue you didn't address is the cost of shipping, Amazon primes members get most items shipped for free - this adds up to a significant savings and I will say that there return policy has been a life saver for me many times over the years. I Love what you do and have purchased wiring diagrams from you in the past and learned a lot from your programs, but when your talking about dropping 10K or better on components it's hard to take the chance that if there is an issue there could be challenges in getting a quick replacement! If you address these issues in a like way then you will earn my business. FYI if on Amazon only purchase items shipped from Amazon or you are asking for issues with returns and support.
Re: Cost of shipping: We offer free shipping on orders over $200, which with the inhearant price of electrical system components/kits; most orders ship for free. Re: Return policy: Why do you believe that we would give you challenges w/ getting a replacement on a faulty component? For returns; if it's just a simply "I changed my mind" return, as long as the product is new-in-box and unused; that's a pretty straightforward return/exchange. If it's a return on a faulty piece of equipment; 9 times out of 10, the item isn't faulty and it's either an installation or programming error; and instead of just accepting a return; we will help the customer to get the product up and running with the guides we make for that purpose. This gets the customer to the desired "I just want it to work" result faster than a return, and swapping in a component that is ultimately going to give the same problem because the 'problem' wasn't fixed. If the equipment is actually deemed faulty; we start the warranty process and get that moving pretty quickly. Personally I LOATHE outstanding warranty claims from both a consumer perspective and as a dealer so I want to get those handled as fast as possible. In short: I'd love to hear why you think we'd be screwing you over on returns/warranty claims; if this is the main thing keeping you from purchasing from us.
@@EXPLORISTlife Well I am not saying that you would screw anyone on returns, I was giving you a chance to respond to the two issues that you did not cover in your commercial (Well done but still a commercial) I think given knowing your policies now that you responded to my two biggest concerns I will purchase from you. I think knowing all the facts is far better than just knowing what talking points about why Buy from you! I'm very impressed that you answered my concerns head on and so quickly, you got me sold! One more question about your wiring kits, can I order custom lengths of wire? No two installations are the same and component placement is all about being creative and having enough cable to make the connections.
Gotcha. Thanks for being understanding with my to-the-point reply. 😁👍 For wire lengths; some of our kits are customizable, yes, but some of them are not; and this is for voltage drop reasons. We supply enough wire so that it meets the needs of 99% of installations and can also stay within acceptable voltage drop parameters so we can guarentee performance of the system.
In our country shops raise prices for November/December (black friday and x-mas) so right now it's very expensive to buy any Victron stuff. Prices are 15 - 25% more than it was 3 - 4 weeks ago. South Africa
What is really important is service after sale! Will the seller answer questions and provide support. Explorist was not selling product when I did my install. I went with another company and they have provided excellent service. I'm sure Explorist will do the same.
I’m Going through you guys because it just makes sense. It’s all Rolled together. The only difference is I’m going to use two of the big epoch batteries and need to figure out what differences I need for a big 50amp but 12v system
I've also recently started something: If I need something specific I find on Amazon; I often try to google search the company and see if they have their own website to cut Amazon out of the middle. For example: I was looking for some skid shoes for my snowblower the other day, found them on Amazon, looked up the company on google, and it was a small fabrication shop in Minnesota, and it turns out they were selling their skid shoes from their own website for less than they were on Amazon. Them doing this got me a discount, but they also make more money like that since they aren't having to pay amazon fees. A win-win.
For many years I ran a biz structured like this. And I can tell you, the only way to 'get a deal' on these type of price structured products, is a roundabout and hit or miss thing. It's to pay full price, but then the dealer discounts some other things for you, that he is allowed to... that's the roundabout part... the hit or miss part is, is the 'other deal' even on stuff you need, or of the quality you want in your system... AND THEN, There's the BIG Question... If that dealer is willing to slither through Victron's loopholes, risking his biz relationship with them... how many loopholes do you think he can find when it comes to a warranty claim on a faulty part.(You reversed polarity... you charged below 0C, etc, etc.
Yeah; that's sorta like our one-time-a-year sale during Black Friday where we 'typically' do a 'buy the component at regular sale price and get the wiring kit xx% off'. It gives people what they need and the discount they want while staying above board on MAP policy. We can only do that the one time a year; though, on years we've done well enough, since it drops our prices below what we need to sustain our small business and keep food on the table.
Two options there: 1: Contact Victron directly and see if there is a successor in-line to take over that dealers account. 2: Contact the dealer you plan to give your future business to. We've been handling a fair amount of tech support from AM Solar and a few others who have shut down this past year. Although we unfortunately don't get paid for providing this service/support, we do so in good faith that somebody would be coming to us with their future purchases.
I tried Amazon once, the multiplus they sent me was the newer one without the price reduction and it had been opened , never again I returned it by the way
After watching multiple videos to learn and be able to design my diagram I would like to know how I can send it to you and validate my wiring sizing according to your calculators. To make sure I did not overlook anything, for a service fee of course!
Why not just use our kits and system designs we've already published? We've already done all of that for you, put them into kits, and are in stock and ready to ship. Maybe let's cut the re-work out of the equation and let you put your money toward the components and kits instead of, admittedly, super expensive design and consulting hourly fees.
Would still be nice if victron was offering holiday sales that you can pass on. The Tech support aspect is important because victron themselves are not that helpful. Guess that’s what their dealer network is for and yes, Amazon is just super convenient but not helpful for support. Curious though, are there opportunities for affiliate sales?
We don't offer an affiliate program at this time, no. We ran the numbers and paying out affiliate commissions would eat into the section of our margins we have set aside to produce our weekly tutorial videos (you wouldn't believe how expensive that is to keep up with). Instead; we would just hope that you would recommend our store to those needing what we do which in turn provides you the value of the weekly videos we release.
i have a Class A motorhome 40'. I now have an Magnum like 3100 watt 12 vdc system. I don't know how old the batteries are or even if it really work or how well. I have ordered (2) 51.2 Vdc 100 AH batteries. I have found some 420 watt flexible solar panels. I will try to put from 6 to 8 on my motorhome. I'm looking for a solar system that I can use my batteries and solar panels with. I wish I could find 120 and 240 output ( victron doesn't have anything like this) . Unless you want to purchase two units. I have seem but can't remember which one has 50 amp split-phase in put but only provides one ac out 120 V ac if one ac line or both ac lines drop. I do have a transfer switch. I have order part to fix so should hopefully have it up and running in a week. I wish they had one that provided 50 amp split-phase input and would provide on or both AC if I lost one or both. I have a 8000 Onan Generator that hooks to my hope to be working ( already ordered parts for ) transfer switch. Besides Killing myself what would you get if you were me ? I will order from you if you can help me I'm a little lost lol .
If you just want to message your questions to shop.explorist.life/support, we will most definitely get you squared away before Black Friday. We respond to all support questions within one business day. Our black friday sale will last through the weekend and Steph and I will both be answering pre-sales questions through the weekend so everybody who wants to take advantage can do so.
I would feel like an absolute jerk absorbing all this free education and then buying elsewhere.Education,service,super prompt shipping and no bullshit people!
You can't get any discounts. Victron participates in MAP pricing, which is legalized price fixing by the manufacturer. If someone sells it for less than MAP then Victron will pull distribution. This BS was caused by the "Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc" supreme court lawsuit in 2007. The conservative court of course was on the side of businesses and now has wiped out consumer protections previously upheld by the Sherman Anti Trust act. This was basically Brighton Collectables complaining that an Internet retailer was selling the same hang bags they sold for below MSRP. This is why you can lo longer get a LG OLED TV, guns, many knives, some kitchenware and of course Victron products below MAP. The only way to get Victron stuff lower than MAP is you have to be a dealer yourself OR you have to buy it used.
Establishing MAP pricing also protects smaller dealers like ourselves from huge corporations like Amazon/Walmart with unlimited capital driving the prices down below my wholesale price, putting me out of business, and then raising prices to higher than retail when there's no competition. Without map pricing, you'd end up paying a higher price at the end of the day because of this and then you'd be having to deal with a dealer who is just there becaue they could sell goods and not necessarily provide the tech support/customer service. At face value, MAP pricing policies don't seem very customer friendly; but looking at the big picture, they protect everybody.
FYI your email link on your website is blocked saying it's third party spam, trying to find and fall on a victron for an fifth wheel no way to get a hold of you.
Do you have any tips/feedback for us to make it more obvious on our store that we do indeed ship internationally? In other words: Why did you think we wouldn't ship internationally?
I suppose I can ask our employees which one of them is willing to take it out of their paycheck for you to get a bigger discount. How many dollars off do you want?
MAP is only “Advertised” pricing. Thats so there isn’t a race to the bottom on advertised pricing. Believe you me, it’s ONLY ADVERTISED pricing and not always selling price. They are very different and understand the words are literal. So call around!!
At explorist.life, we don't discount further than MAP even if you 'call us for a quote'. MAP is a fair price for the buyer, for one, but for two: It's also a fair price for us as a business where we have to make a certain amount to operate. If we start discounting everybody's order who emails in, those discounts have to come from somewhere. I suppose that next time I get a request for a discount further than MAP, I can ask the customer which of our paychecks here at explorist.life the discount will come from and then see how well that goes over with the team. 🤣😬 Or maybe I can give 5% off MAP, but everytime they email a question: I invoice them my hourly rate. Personally, I dislike both of those options and I'd rather keep everything fair for everybody so that YOU get the parts you need at a fair price and I don't have to shut this whole thing down and get back on the fire department; because I actually do like running this channel and our store. I truly think it's a pretty good value add for the community.
I wish i knew you before hiring my mechanic who does not know enough except that he knew it was the best unit. He only installed 2 and mine I think is the third. Sopposedly it comes preprogrammed. Well that is not true i don’t think.
Recently; I was muted by the admin of Victron Energy facebook page because somebody asked where to find discounts on Victron equipment and I replied with:
"Victron dealers aren’t allowed to sell Victron products below 15% off MSRP, even on Black Friday. Most dealers, myself included at shop.explorist.life keep our prices at that 15% off msrp year round."
My comment was deleted and I was temporarily muted for self promotion.
But guess what comment by another group member stayed and DID NOT get deleted?
"The 150/35 is on sale on Amazon."
The fact of the matter is that the odds are stacked against all small businesses. Any time somebody shares their 'deal' they got from Amazon; it's seen as a helpful tip. If I, as a small business owner, share what makes our business different; it's seen as self promotion and we are silenced.
This is why it's so critical for YOU - our viewers and supporters of what we do here on this educational channel - to share this information with others looking to get into this hobby; because YOU sharing our information in these groups means 10x as much as me sharing it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Your transparency is one of the many reasons why I want to purchase through explorist
Bottom line, your customer service and tech support is top grade and you can’t get that from Amazon. Last year I purchased a complete setup, components and wiring, from you guys for my fifth wheel and with the help of your step by step tutorial, did the installation myself. This saved me over $5k and I’ve had zero problems with the system. Extremely grateful for all of your content and all of the information you share.
I agree 100%! Your wiring kits also remove a LOT of stress trying to figure out right size, Lugs etc. I will not
risk burning down my van to save a few bucks on Amazon! Thanks again!
This is the reason we buy all our electrical parts & pieces from ya’ll. Keep doing what you do.
I have an Excel spreadsheet that lists all of the stuff for my build. I have been buying it one piece at a time for the last few years, as my budget allows. I have had to update that list every time I buy something. Victron stuff had been steadily dropping their prices for years. Several of your kits are on my list as well. Thank you for doing what you do. I hope the two or three times a year I tell people about your store helps get the word out.
Rather support the company that is providing me with fantastic tutorials!
Which, by coincidence, applies to Victron products themselves. I mean, between their own materials (especially two booklets you can download from their site... Wiring Unlimited, and Energy Unlimited), and their community (called Victron Professional, but anyone can sign up and get in). So yeah... companies that go out of their way to help you before, or even if you never, purchase from them, are the kind of companies you WANT to do biz with.
When you explain it like you did your basically getting way more for your buck buying from Explorist life. Thanks guys keep doing what you do best 😊
Saw your comment in the Facebook group before it was muted! Thanks for putting out the great content you do, including this. As a ABYC tech and Victron dealer myself, I think what y’all are doing is great, and have pointed clients to your content as a great way to educate them!
Thanks for the support! Facebook groups are frustrating like that. Share a piece of information: Super helpful. Share a piece of information accompanied with a link where they can purchase the item in question? If it's amazon; it's fine. If it's your own store: Muted for self promotion.
I missed that it got muted…you were (and are) spot on. Your wiring kits and component kits are a huge value added for the consumer, especially the pre/post sales support y’all do. 👍👍
Having installed a full system on our 5th wheel earlier this year, you provide a much higher level of information thru your tutorial videos and I loved being able to purchase a wiring kit that had everything I needed to complete that segment of the project.
I've purchased from you numerous times because 1) your prices are competitive, and 2) I want to support you since I've watched, and learned a lot from your videos for many years!
I don't know how many times I've used your videos over the years. (remote property with small cabin)
Agreed!,
Excellent video on trials and tribulations of being a small business in this mass reseller impersonal world that we live in . Differentiating your business by showing your passion for what you do, your support for what you sell and dedication to customer service is something few businesses, especially the Amazons of the world can compete with. Well done.
I’m just happy that we are bound by policy to have the same prices so that I can go toe to toe with them on customer support because I’ll win that 7 days a week.
@Exploristlife For me buying from you was/is a simple proposition. You create tutorials that explain to the layman how to design a system that fits the need, then you assemble everything from wiring diagrams to complete kits and list them in your online store, then you price your products competitively and answer (sometimes dumb) questions from people like me to insure the system will work correctly. Because of your efforts I purchased my solar components from you and installed a system that works great and enables us to camp for extended periods off-grid. You deserve as many thumbs up as this community can muster and much success for your efforts. Believe me, you’re appreciated in this household and will be getting a few more questions in advance of my next purchases for our next upgrade. Seriously, thank you 👊🏻😎👍
Your tutorials and wiring kits and parts made by solar install very doable for the novice that I was when starting my installation. My items arrived neatly packaged and within a few days of placing my order. As you stated your prices are on par with any other seller and one can be sure of receiving the highest quality.
MAP means exactly that. Minimum Advertised Price. These policies are carefully crafted to avoid breaking restraint of trade laws. This is not the same as the minimum price one is allowed to sell at. To do otherwise is illegal. It simply means that a dealer can’t advertise lower. All this said, this is complex stuff and Explorist is doing a great job providing support that is worth paying for. On the other hand, if one has training and invested in the design already, it would be reasonable to request a written quote for the best price.
At explorist.life, we don't discount further than MAP even if you 'request a written quote for the best price'. MAP is a fair price for the buyer, for one, but for two: It's also a fair price for us as a business where we have to make a certain amount to operate.
If we start discounting everybody's order who emails in, those discounts have to come from somewhere. I suppose that next time I get a request for a discount further than MAP, I can ask the customer which of our paychecks here at explorist.life the discount will come from and then see how well that goes over with the team. 🤣😬
Or maybe I can give 5% off MAP, but everytime they email a question: I invoice them my hourly rate.
Personally, I dislike both of those options and I'd rather keep everything fair for everybody.
As a small business owner I can understand the pain and frustration of killing yourself to provide incredible customer service and still seeing people spend their money at places like Amazon instead. Kudos to you for still fighting for it. I hope for your continued success. Thanks for all of your help.
Hear Hear! There are two types of middlemen... 1)- those that simply handle your product as part of a distribution chain... period. 2)- Then there's the other kind of middleman... the one who studies his own product, learns how to add value to it with after sales support... someone who HAS to be there for you, because of agreements with Victron, etc.
Amazon used to be cheaper but not anymore. The reason to use them is the fast free shipping. That saves gas money if you live in rural areas.
We also offer fast shipping (it won't be 2-day shipping since we only have one warehouse and not one in every state) and the shipping is also free given the order is over $200, which in most cases it is given the inherent cost of these products.
Transparency is always best. This along with your educational information is the reason I purchased all components through Explorist Life
Glad you made this video. I have watched several of you videos and found them very informative and helpful. However, I must admit I bought my Victron equipment mostly from amazon just because we have become conditioned. It is easy to purchase, as a Prime Member I get free shipping and, as you stated, returns are pretty much hassle free. All of those reasons are legitimate.
This video reminds me that many TH-cam video makers sell equipment at similar prices to Amazon. Where possible and financially a "wash" we should be supporting content creators like yourself. I am going to try and remember when I need another piece of equipment for my off grid system to check you guys out. I see you have free shipping on orders over $200 so that should not be an issue. I don't know how you handle returns so that is a bit of a wild card but like the fact I would have product support if I purchased from you. When I purchase from Amazon I pretty much assume there will be next to no product support. I have gotten some product support as a result of an Amazon purchase but it is not for the faint of heart. You must be persistent jump thru several hoops and then you MIGHT get a response from the third party seller or...............you may not.
Again, I think this video was a good reminder for me and I'll bet others.
Thanks for the additional consideration there.
For returns; if it's just a simply "I changed my mind" return, as long as the product is new-in-box and unused; that's a pretty straightforward return.
If it's a return on a faulty piece of equipment; 9 times out of 10, the item isn't faulty and it's either an installation or programming error; and instead of just accepting a return; we will help the customer to get the product up and running with the guides we make for that purpose. This gets the customer to the desired "I just want it to work" result faster than a return, and swapping in a component that is ultimately going to give the same problem because the 'problem' wasn't fixed.
If the equipment is actually deemed faulty; we start the warranty process and get that moving pretty quickly. Personally I LOATHE outstanding warranty claims so I want to get those handled as fast as possible.
💯
I try to buy from those who provide useful information and educate. Last August 28 (my birthday), I bought myself a manly birthday present via one of your links, which is a wire cutter you recommended in a video. I've bought other things through you, and I'll buy more. Your prices are good, your affiliate prices are good, and the videos seal the deal. I'm not an expert, but I am a retired engineer and what could be called an "advanced enthusiast," who is still learning. A lot of beginners ask me a lot of questions that would take hours to answer. Luckily, I can point them to either you or Will Prowse for just about anything, since Will covers a lot of residential systems, and you focus on mobile.
Agreed... depending on the question, I refer folks to either, or both, Explorist Life and Will Prouse... two sides of the same coin..... .....for your smile for the day, just for fun, there's always "Physicsduck" (Chris Boden). with just random, usually very high voltage stuff... mostly shorts.
Great video Nate, we know all too well what it means to be one of the "good guys", always adhering to MAP no matter what while others who don't even know what a SmartShunt (insert any Victron product) is and sell for less. Keep up the good work, it can be frustrating but hopefully service wins in the end.
I truly can't imagine how y'all deal with being such high volume on Amazon, specifically in regards to people buying product, issuing a return, and then sending you back a bag of rice in a Victron box to scam the process. Truly infuriating. 😂😅😬 The stories y'all could tell.
Ok, so I am the guy that watches your videos for fun but I do this to research which equipment I want, learn about the design considerations and test my design/understanding. In the end I have been buying my equipment for the reasons you outlined. However I have not bought from you because I did not understand your service and support model. Sorry about that. I will say your approach is excellent and better than most. I think as you progress you will have a support model better than any other supplier for DIY'ers.
Thanks for the additional consideration going forward.
I think that as it stands currently, we already have a support model better than any other supplier. I would be curious what support another dealer provided that swayed your decision away from us in the first place?
I for one am glad I found you guys! Thanks!
I have no intention now of installing a solar system but in the past was. I’m an rv’r but am simply interested in learning about the technology and when I found your site a few years ago I found it and your presentation interesting and informative.
The TLDR is: Buy once, cry once.
I started with Explorist and decided to build a custom setup around my existing inverter to run a 24v AC system and the van components at 12v. I took what they recommended (even buying a couple of wiring diagrams) and sallied forth to source my own 'cheaper' goods. 1) Wire: in my ignorance, I didn't know I was buying copper coated aluminum on Amazon. 2) Components: I bought two items from amazon, both Victron. One came and it was the wrong item and the other came and was used. Not heavily, but it had a funk and the packaging had clearly been opened and repacked.
So, now I'm back, I ordered my house wiring based on their link and am scheduling to purchase a kit from them later this week.
Resellers either knowingly (devious) or unknowingly (careless) prey on the users ignorance. I have lots and lots of ignorance. Whatever premium Explorist charges is absolutely worth it. It is the cheapest education you can find. Besides, it's MINIMAL, which I think this video does a good job of explaining.
Hmmm... we are ALL, if not ignorant, at least woefully uneducated for electrical work, unless we actually studied electrical engineering. All the advice we can get is useful. And if we find repetitive content between different channels.. GOOD, that info is probably correct. lol.
Worth noting that I didn't have good enough grades in school to get accepted into an engineering program and I'd like to think that is a testament to the fact you most definitely do NOT need to be an electrical engineer to build these systems.
@@EXPLORISTlife Oh, I agree... just meant that if we are to do it ourselves, we want the best info available to guide us, and a supplier that sticks with us till we get it right. lol.
I recently purchased a complete Explorer Lite package from Explorist and I'm very satisfied. The quality of all materials (wire, terminals, etc) was top notch. My Inverter got damaged in shipping and Chad at Explorist remedied the issue perfectly.
You can not ask Amazon installation questions. You can ask Explorist life any questions about your purchases.
Nuff said.
Can't say thank you enough for all the info you put out. Your kit made it so easy for me to put together and install a great system in my Ovrlnd Camper! Will be back when it's time to add more....which is now lol
Appreciate your knowledge and transparency!
The After Service Care is the best I have encountered, I cannot overstate how helpful they have been, I built my first Sprinter this summer and they were crazy helpful, even went above and beyond. Do yourself a favor and get free help!
Good video. I really appreciate how you folks explained pricing and I agree that too often it seems easier via Amazon. But in the case of solar, there is a lot more to consider beyond the price and when you buy something from Amazon, if you need more after the fact, you might find yourself in a bit of a pinch.
Greetings i have learned a lot from your videos. I managed to set up my own Solar System from your channel. Greetings from Uganda, East Africa.
You guys do great videos and are always so straight up woth everything. I wish we had access to something like your store here in Australia.
You DO!! We ship internationally and have quite a few Australian customers already. Do you have any feedback/tips on how we can better convey that we ship internationally?
@EXPLORISTlife probably more just an assumption on my part sorry. Your shipping policy clearly its states international policy. I'd just not read that far. Thanks.
Amazon is The last place i order stuff from.
I find stuff on your site is reasonable....
The Information is EXCELLENT....
As being an Auto Mechanic/wiring tech dude?
I always run wire @ the next size up,
and 2x the required Gauge if possible FOR big AMPS Loads/runs....
I can add on at a later Date without doubt.....
I always Shop Around,
i find alot of times ya can get it cheaper without most store markup prices..
Ya'll is 1 of the places i send interested people to..
Im tired of seeing people get jacked..
I dont know what Amazon is sending me,,
New, Used, Returned, defective? a FAKE?
Ya never know with Amazon..
A few years back there was a major legal case against a spice manufacturer for fixing prices just this way. It was very expensive for them, and they lost, which made it more expensive.
If you're referring to the McCormicks FTC lawsuit regarding the The Robinson-Patman Act; that was an entirely different thing.
Having a MAP policy is not price fixing as the policy only has to do with what we are allowed to advertise for.
MAP pricing also protects smaller dealers like ourselves from huge corporations like Amazon/Walmart with unlimited capital driving the prices down below my wholesale price, putting me out of business, and then raising prices to higher than retail when there's no competition.
Without map pricing, you'd end up paying a higher price at the end of the day because of this and then you'd be having to deal with a dealer who is just there becaue they could sell goods and not necessarily provide the tech support/customer service.
At face value, MAP pricing policies don't seem very customer friendly; but looking at the big picture, they protect everybody.
Well the one issue you didn't address is the cost of shipping, Amazon primes members get most items shipped for free - this adds up to a significant savings and I will say that there return policy has been a life saver for me many times over the years. I Love what you do and have purchased wiring diagrams from you in the past and learned a lot from your programs, but when your talking about dropping 10K or better on components it's hard to take the chance that if there is an issue there could be challenges in getting a quick replacement! If you address these issues in a like way then you will earn my business. FYI if on Amazon only purchase items shipped from Amazon or you are asking for issues with returns and support.
Re: Cost of shipping: We offer free shipping on orders over $200, which with the inhearant price of electrical system components/kits; most orders ship for free.
Re: Return policy: Why do you believe that we would give you challenges w/ getting a replacement on a faulty component?
For returns; if it's just a simply "I changed my mind" return, as long as the product is new-in-box and unused; that's a pretty straightforward return/exchange.
If it's a return on a faulty piece of equipment; 9 times out of 10, the item isn't faulty and it's either an installation or programming error; and instead of just accepting a return; we will help the customer to get the product up and running with the guides we make for that purpose. This gets the customer to the desired "I just want it to work" result faster than a return, and swapping in a component that is ultimately going to give the same problem because the 'problem' wasn't fixed.
If the equipment is actually deemed faulty; we start the warranty process and get that moving pretty quickly. Personally I LOATHE outstanding warranty claims from both a consumer perspective and as a dealer so I want to get those handled as fast as possible.
In short: I'd love to hear why you think we'd be screwing you over on returns/warranty claims; if this is the main thing keeping you from purchasing from us.
@@EXPLORISTlife Well I am not saying that you would screw anyone on returns, I was giving you a chance to respond to the two issues that you did not cover in your commercial (Well done but still a commercial) I think given knowing your policies now that you responded to my two biggest concerns I will purchase from you. I think knowing all the facts is far better than just knowing what talking points about why Buy from you! I'm very impressed that you answered my concerns head on and so quickly, you got me sold!
One more question about your wiring kits, can I order custom lengths of wire? No two installations are the same and component placement is all about being creative and having enough cable to make the connections.
Gotcha. Thanks for being understanding with my to-the-point reply. 😁👍
For wire lengths; some of our kits are customizable, yes, but some of them are not; and this is for voltage drop reasons. We supply enough wire so that it meets the needs of 99% of installations and can also stay within acceptable voltage drop parameters so we can guarentee performance of the system.
@@EXPLORISTlife Thanks for the info, well done!
In our country shops raise prices for November/December (black friday and x-mas) so right now it's very expensive to buy any Victron stuff. Prices are 15 - 25% more than it was 3 - 4 weeks ago. South Africa
Happy to help! We ship internationally and we keep our prices at 15% off MSRP year round.
What is really important is service after sale! Will the seller answer questions and provide support. Explorist was not selling product when I did my install. I went with another company and they have provided excellent service. I'm sure Explorist will do the same.
Indeed we will! Thanks for watching.
I’m
Going through you guys because it just makes sense. It’s all
Rolled together. The only difference is I’m going to use two of the big epoch batteries and need to figure out what differences I need for a big 50amp but 12v system
Sure! Our kits accommodate that natively. Reach out at shop.explorist.life/support if you're having trouble finding that.
Did I miss the sale date, only in Black Friday? You are right, we do like Black Friday deals
Sale dates will be announced on social media throughout this next week.
Customer service
Rather give money to a small business over a large monopoly.
I've also recently started something: If I need something specific I find on Amazon; I often try to google search the company and see if they have their own website to cut Amazon out of the middle.
For example: I was looking for some skid shoes for my snowblower the other day, found them on Amazon, looked up the company on google, and it was a small fabrication shop in Minnesota, and it turns out they were selling their skid shoes from their own website for less than they were on Amazon.
Them doing this got me a discount, but they also make more money like that since they aren't having to pay amazon fees. A win-win.
For many years I ran a biz structured like this. And I can tell you, the only way to 'get a deal' on these type of price structured products, is a roundabout and hit or miss thing. It's to pay full price, but then the dealer discounts some other things for you, that he is allowed to... that's the roundabout part... the hit or miss part is, is the 'other deal' even on stuff you need, or of the quality you want in your system... AND THEN, There's the BIG Question... If that dealer is willing to slither through Victron's loopholes, risking his biz relationship with them... how many loopholes do you think he can find when it comes to a warranty claim on a faulty part.(You reversed polarity... you charged below 0C, etc, etc.
Yeah; that's sorta like our one-time-a-year sale during Black Friday where we 'typically' do a 'buy the component at regular sale price and get the wiring kit xx% off'. It gives people what they need and the discount they want while staying above board on MAP policy.
We can only do that the one time a year; though, on years we've done well enough, since it drops our prices below what we need to sustain our small business and keep food on the table.
I've been curious, what happens if your Victron dealer closes their business and you need tech support?
Two options there:
1: Contact Victron directly and see if there is a successor in-line to take over that dealers account.
2: Contact the dealer you plan to give your future business to. We've been handling a fair amount of tech support from AM Solar and a few others who have shut down this past year. Although we unfortunately don't get paid for providing this service/support, we do so in good faith that somebody would be coming to us with their future purchases.
I tried Amazon once, the multiplus they sent me was the newer one without the price reduction and it had been opened , never again I returned it by the way
Oof; ouch.
After watching multiple videos to learn and be able to design my diagram I would like to know how I can send it to you and validate my wiring sizing according to your calculators. To make sure I did not overlook anything, for a service fee of course!
Why not just use our kits and system designs we've already published? We've already done all of that for you, put them into kits, and are in stock and ready to ship. Maybe let's cut the re-work out of the equation and let you put your money toward the components and kits instead of, admittedly, super expensive design and consulting hourly fees.
Amazon does not answer my installation questions!
Bottom line and in a nutshell it’s better to support mom & pops business than big corporations. MAGA 🇺🇸🤙
Lol. Not one thing in maga is anything but pro corporation cult. Billionaires and pedos.
Would still be nice if victron was offering holiday sales that you can pass on.
The Tech support aspect is important because victron themselves are not that helpful. Guess that’s what their dealer network is for and yes, Amazon is just super convenient but not helpful for support.
Curious though, are there opportunities for affiliate sales?
We don't offer an affiliate program at this time, no. We ran the numbers and paying out affiliate commissions would eat into the section of our margins we have set aside to produce our weekly tutorial videos (you wouldn't believe how expensive that is to keep up with). Instead; we would just hope that you would recommend our store to those needing what we do which in turn provides you the value of the weekly videos we release.
i have a Class A motorhome 40'. I now have an Magnum like 3100 watt 12 vdc system. I don't know how old the batteries are or even if it really work or how well. I have ordered (2) 51.2 Vdc 100 AH batteries. I have found some 420 watt flexible solar panels. I will try to put from 6 to 8 on my motorhome. I'm looking for a solar system that I can use my batteries and solar panels with. I wish I could find 120 and 240 output ( victron doesn't have anything like this) . Unless you want to purchase two units. I have seem but can't remember which one has 50 amp split-phase in put but only provides one ac out 120 V ac if one ac line or both ac lines drop. I do have a transfer switch. I have order part to fix so should hopefully have it up and running in a week. I wish they had one that provided 50 amp split-phase input and would provide on or both AC if I lost one or both. I have a 8000 Onan Generator that hooks to my hope to be working ( already ordered parts for ) transfer switch. Besides Killing myself what would you get if you were me ? I will order from you if you can help me I'm a little lost lol .
This may be best handled in a support ticket: shop.explorist.life/support
“The only thing Americans fear is inconvenience”
Now, how do I make it more clear to our over-seas viewers that we ship internationally. 🤔🧐🤔🤣
I want to support small business with my hard earned $$$, can I suet up a consultion in time to take advantage of buying in your BFS?
If you just want to message your questions to shop.explorist.life/support, we will most definitely get you squared away before Black Friday. We respond to all support questions within one business day. Our black friday sale will last through the weekend and Steph and I will both be answering pre-sales questions through the weekend so everybody who wants to take advantage can do so.
I would feel like an absolute jerk absorbing all this free education and then buying elsewhere.Education,service,super prompt shipping and no bullshit people!
You can't get any discounts. Victron participates in MAP pricing, which is legalized price fixing by the manufacturer. If someone sells it for less than MAP then Victron will pull distribution.
This BS was caused by the "Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc" supreme court lawsuit in 2007. The conservative court of course was on the side of businesses and now has wiped out consumer protections previously upheld by the Sherman Anti Trust act.
This was basically Brighton Collectables complaining that an Internet retailer was selling the same hang bags they sold for below MSRP. This is why you can lo longer get a LG OLED TV, guns, many knives, some kitchenware and of course Victron products below MAP.
The only way to get Victron stuff lower than MAP is you have to be a dealer yourself OR you have to buy it used.
Establishing MAP pricing also protects smaller dealers like ourselves from huge corporations like Amazon/Walmart with unlimited capital driving the prices down below my wholesale price, putting me out of business, and then raising prices to higher than retail when there's no competition.
Without map pricing, you'd end up paying a higher price at the end of the day because of this and then you'd be having to deal with a dealer who is just there becaue they could sell goods and not necessarily provide the tech support/customer service.
At face value, MAP pricing policies don't seem very customer friendly; but looking at the big picture, they protect everybody.
FYI your email link on your website is blocked saying it's third party spam, trying to find and fall on a victron for an fifth wheel no way to get a hold of you.
The little chat bubble in the lower right is being marked as third party spam?
I would love to bye from you, but I live in Canada
We ship internationally! We have many Canadian customers already.
Do you have any tips/feedback for us to make it more obvious on our store that we do indeed ship internationally? In other words: Why did you think we wouldn't ship internationally?
MAP = Minimum "Advertised" Price
Does this mean I can get a lower price as long as you don't "Advertise" it? 😉
I suppose I can ask our employees which one of them is willing to take it out of their paycheck for you to get a bigger discount. How many dollars off do you want?
And if there is a specific employee (or maybe it’s me 😬🫣), just let me know who should take the hit on their paycheck for your even further discount.
MAP is only “Advertised” pricing. Thats so there isn’t a race to the bottom on advertised pricing. Believe you me, it’s ONLY ADVERTISED pricing and not always selling price. They are very different and understand the words are literal. So call around!!
At explorist.life, we don't discount further than MAP even if you 'call us for a quote'. MAP is a fair price for the buyer, for one, but for two: It's also a fair price for us as a business where we have to make a certain amount to operate.
If we start discounting everybody's order who emails in, those discounts have to come from somewhere. I suppose that next time I get a request for a discount further than MAP, I can ask the customer which of our paychecks here at explorist.life the discount will come from and then see how well that goes over with the team. 🤣😬
Or maybe I can give 5% off MAP, but everytime they email a question: I invoice them my hourly rate.
Personally, I dislike both of those options and I'd rather keep everything fair for everybody so that YOU get the parts you need at a fair price and I don't have to shut this whole thing down and get back on the fire department; because I actually do like running this channel and our store. I truly think it's a pretty good value add for the community.
probably the most trustworthy in the solar industry
I wish i knew you before hiring my mechanic who does not know enough except that he knew it was the best unit. He only installed 2 and mine I think is the third. Sopposedly it comes preprogrammed. Well that is not true i don’t think.
Ouch. 😣
Just better buy your Victron before the next round of tariffs.
That might indeed be a good idea, yes.